Memphis music icon Jim Dickinson, the producer behind The Replacements’ Pleased To Meet Me and Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 15. The 67 year old musician was recovering from triple bypass surgery.
Dickinson was a sought after session musician who played piano on numerous albums including The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, Aretha Franklin’s Spirit In The Dark, and Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind. His production work on the Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers, recorded in 1974, but not released until 1978, made him an in-demand producer for many of the new bands who would soon top the college alternative charts in the 80’s. In addition to The Replacements, Dickinson also produced Jason & The Scorchers, Green On Red, Mojo Nixon, True Believers, Willy DeVille, John Hiatt, and Houston favorite Joe “King Carrasco.
JIm Dickinson also fronted a band called Snake Eyes and recorded several solo albums including the 2006 album Jungle Jim And The Voodoo Tiger featuring his sons Luther and Cody who have their band known as the North Mississippi Allstars. Below are two interview segments with Dickinson discussing his work as a producer.